Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem is sincere in his struggle for the people of Sarawak.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said after taking over the state leadership from Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, Adenan had showed strong commitment in the struggle so that the voice of Sarawakians was heard by federal leaders.

"The popularity of Adenan is not because he is deliberately seeking popularity. He is a leader sincere in his struggle for the people of Sarawak regardless of race, culture and religion," he said.

As such, according to Ahmad Zahid, federal leaders like him came to the state to look into what was said by the Chief Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister was speaking at the closing of a Sarawak Community University Student Programme organised by his office, the Chief Minister's Office and the Higher Education Ministry at Rumah Bungan near here today.

He said federal leaders came to the state not for speech-making during or making empty promises as done by some parties.

"We do not want to come and make pledges which cannot be fulfilled like some people from the peninsula or other places, who are only out to split the people," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said when their leaders were rejected they said the system of democracy in Sarawak was not fair.

According to him, the people did not want them as there was no development, and they became leaders crowing in Dewan Rakyat or even the Sarawak state assembly and still failed to get any development.

He called on the people in the state to choose representatives who could bring allocations and development to defend their interests.

On Dr Annuar Rapaee, the Nangka state assemblyman, Ahmad Zahid said Annuar had brought much development in the constituency and it was fair for residents in the area to give him another five years to serve them.